Impact of caloric and dietary restriction regimens on markers of health and longevity in humans and animals: a summary of available findings

Considerable interest has been shown in the ability of caloric restriction (CR) to improve multiple parameters of health and to extend lifespan. CR is the reduction of caloric intake - typically by 20 - 40% of ad libitum consumption - while maintaining adequate nutrient intake. Several alternatives to CR exist. CR combined with exercise (CE) consists of both decreased caloric intake and increased caloric expenditure. Alternate-day fasting (ADF) consists of two interchanging days; one day, subjects may consume food ad libitum (sometimes equaling twice the normal intake); on the other day, food is reduced or withheld altogether. Dietary restriction (DR) - restriction of one or more components of intake (typically macronutrients) with minimal to no reduction in total caloric intake - is another alternative to CR. Many religions incorporate one or more forms of food restriction. The following religious fasting periods are featured in this review: 1) Islamic Ramadan; 2) the three principal fasting periods of Greek Orthodox Christianity (Nativity, Lent, and the Assumption); and 3) the Biblical-based Daniel Fast. This review provides a summary of the current state of knowledge related to CR and DR. A specific section is provided that illustrates related work pertaining to religious forms of food restriction. Where available, studies involving both humans and animals are presented. The review includes suggestions for future research pertaining to the topics of discussion

Performance monitoring of anaerobic digestion at various organic loading rates of commercial Malaysian food waste

Application of anaerobic digestion (AD) has become common in treating palm oil mill effluent in Malaysia; however, employing AD in treating the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), especially food waste, is still scarce. This study aims to characterize the commercial Malaysian food waste (CMFW) and determine its potential as sustainable bioenergy feedstock through biogas production. The sample was digested <jats:italic>via</jats:italic> the biomethane potential (BMP) test with the variation of organic loading rates (OLRs), ranging from 0.38 to 3.83 gCOD/L. day, under mesophilic conditions. The digestion process was further evaluated in continuous operation using a 6-L continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). The kinetic properties of the process were also determined. It was found that the CMFW had a significant amount of chemical oxygen demand of 230 g/L and an acidic pH of 4.5 with the carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio at 121:1. A maximum methane composition of 81% was obtained at 1.92 gCOD/L in the BMP test with specific methane production (SMP) at 0.952 L. CH<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>/L.COD fed. The biogas production was well-fitted with the modified Gompertz model with <jats:italic>R</jats:italic>2 at 0.9983 and the maximum biogas potential production rate at R<jats:sub>m</jats:sub> 0.1573 L/day, whereas in the CSTR operation, a maximum methane composition of 85% was produced at OLR 6 gCOD/L. day with the SMP of 1.13 L. CH<jats:sub>4</jats:sub>/L.COD fed. The CSTR system was in high stability as the pH was maintained in a range of 6.6–6.7, with an alkalinity ratio of 0.28. This study indicates the CMFW is a sustainable feedstock for biogas production in Malaysia. Toward a circular economy approach, the authorities shall introduce commercial scale CMFW AD as part of managing municipal solid waste issues in Malaysia

Operational process stability in pilot dry anaerobic digester of source-sorted organic fraction municipal solid waste

The organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is a major portion of solid waste in Malaysia, with 44.5% of the total waste being food waste-derived sources. This study investigates the performance of dry anaerobic digester (DAD) operation using the pilot dry anaerobic digester (PDAD), a plug flow reactor, in treating source-sorted organic fraction municipal solid waste (SS-OFMSW) for biogas production. A commercial Malaysian food waste (CMFW) sample has been used to represent SS-OFMSW. The anaerobic digestion was performed in a semi-continuous operation using a 15 m3 PDAD with organic loading rates (OLRs) ranging from .63 to 5.46 kg volatile solid (VS)/m3·day under mesophilic conditions. The maximum methane composition was achieved at 56.0% at OLR 5.17 kg VS/m3·day with specific methane production (SMP) of .57 m3·CH4/kg VSfed and gas production rate (GPR) 5.27 m3·gas/m3·digester·day. As indicated by a pH and alkalinity ratio, the PDAD system was stable ranging from pH 6.7 to 8.3, alkalinity ratio of .3 with an inclination of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) up to 1056 mg/L. The SMP achieved is between 1.58 and .4 m3·CH4/kg VSfed and potentially to fuelled 475 MW commercial biogas plant fed by CMFW. The DAD deployment strengthened the circular economy and decarbonization initiatives

Design of a fault diagnostic engine for power transformer using data mining

The power transformer is one of the main components in a power transmission network. Major faults in these transformers can cause extensive damage which does not only interrupt electricity supply but also results in large revenue losses. Thus, these transformers are needed to be routinely maintained. Due to the large number of transformers of different makes and capacities, routine maintenance and diagnosis of such transformers are rather difficult as different transformers exhibit different characteristics and problems. Moreover, different climatic and operating conditions may not be able to draw correct conclusion to some problems. In Malaysia, the lack of local expertise makes dependency on foreign consultants imminent which are rather expensive. To help in overcoming such problems, a Software for Intelligent Diagnostics of Power Transformers known as ADAPT, using the technique of fuzzy logic is developed in this study. The technique allows the interpretation of the Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) to be performed routinely on the transformers. In order to ensure that all the transformers are diagnosed and maintained properly, a new intelligent diagnostic architecture known as Total Intelligent Diagnostic Solution (TIDS) has been developed to improve the diagnosis accuracy of the conventional DGA approaches. The TIDS structure has a main interpretation module which consists of Fuzzy TDCG and Fuzzy Key Gases and a supportive interpretation module which consists of Fuzzy Rogers Ratio and Fuzzy Nomograph. The TIDS structure is incorporated into the ADAPT software which allows for multiple diagnostic methods to reach an ultimate outcome especially when verified by four methods. This new architecture leads to the diagnostic of a wider range of transformer fault types and provides a more detail information about the transformer condition, thus help to reduce maintenance costs, prevent unnecessary force outages and avoid explosion danger

Effect of the poly l-lactic acid coating on the corrosion of Magnesium in Hank’s solution

To control the corrosion rate, the Magnesium (Mg) was coated with poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) using electrospinning technique. The effectiveness of the PLLA coating on the high purity Magnesium (HP Mg) and alloy AZ91 were tested in Hank’s solution immersion test. The corrosion behaviour of Mg coated PLLA was studied through hydrogen evolution, weight loss and scanning electron microscope (SEM) before, during and after samples were immersed. The solution was maintained at pH 7 by bubbling CO2 gas. The results showed that surface treatment on Mg by coating with PLLA had reduced the rate of corrosion during the immersion test. The PLLA coating was also characterized and the coating adhesion was evaluated

Tackling Carbon Emission with Nature: Effectiveness of Indigenous Microalgae Mixed Culture

Marine microalgae species was isolated and identified from its native condition of sea water discharge canals at the TNB Janamanjung Sdn Bhd’s coal-fired power station. The species was expected to be a robust one based on the prevalent harsh upstream conditions and processes the survived ones endured. The isolation involves streaking-plating method as well as serial dilution and liquid media culture propagation. Morphological and molecular identification were both carried out before satisfactory identification of Chlorella sp. be made. This species was later mixed with marine Isochrysis sp. with varying volumetric proportions and cultured in five separate air-lift bubbling column photobioreactors, as part of the experiment to determine which optimum volumetric culture ratio is best to fix CO2 from the power plant. Results indicate that a more dominant ratio of Chlorella sp. 75% and Isochrysis sp. 25% by volume provide gives a better growth profile and indicates a better CO2 fixation rates

Tackling Carbon Emission with Nature: Effectiveness of Indigenous Microalgae Mixed Culture

Marine microalgae species was isolated and identified from its native condition of sea water discharge canals at the TNB Janamanjung Sdn Bhd’s coal-fired power station. The species was expected to be a robust one based on the prevalent harsh upstream conditions and processes the survived ones endured. The isolation involves streaking-plating method as well as serial dilution and liquid media culture propagation. Morphological and molecular identification were both carried out before satisfactory identification of Chlorella sp. be made. This species was later mixed with marine Isochrysis sp. with varying volumetric proportions and cultured in five separate air-lift bubbling column photobioreactors, as part of the experiment to determine which optimum volumetric culture ratio is best to fix CO2 from the power plant. Results indicate that a more dominant ratio of Chlorella sp. 75% and Isochrysis sp. 25% by volume provide gives a better growth profile and indicates a better CO2 fixation rates

Anaerobic Digestion, Codigestion of Food Waste, and Chicken Dung: Correlation of Kinetic Parameters with Digester Performance and On-Farm Electrical Energy Generation Potential

Valorization of agro-food waste through anaerobic digestion (AD) is gaining prominence as alternative method of waste minimization and renewable energy production. The aim of this study was to identify the key parameters for digester performance subjected to kinetic study and semicontinuous operation. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests were conducted in two different operating conditions: without mixing (WM) and continuous mixing (CM). Three different substrates, including food waste (FW), chicken dung (CD), and codigestion of FW and CD (FWCD) were used. Further kinetic evaluation was performed to identify mixing’s effect on kinetic parameters and correlation of the kinetic parameters with digester performance (volatile solid removal (VS%) and specific methane production (SMP)). The four models applied were: modified Gompertz, logistic, first-order, and Monod. It was found that the CM mode revealed higher values of Rm and k as compared to the WM mode, and the trend was consistently observed in the modified Gompertz model. Nonetheless, the logistic model demonstrated good correlation of kinetic parameters with VS% and SMP. In the continuous systems, the optimum OLR was recorded at 4, 5, and 7 g VS/L/d for FW, CD, and FWCD respectively. Therefore, it was deduced that codigestion significantly improved digester performance. Electrical energy generation at the laboratory scale was 0.002, 0.003, and 0.006 kWh for the FW, CD, and FWCD substrates, respectively. Thus, projected electrical energy generation at the on-farm scale was 372 kWh, 382 kWh, and 518 kWh per day, respectively. Hence, the output could be used as a precursor for large-scale digester-system optimization

Anaerobic Digestion, Codigestion of Food Waste, and Chicken Dung: Correlation of Kinetic Parameters with Digester Performance and On-Farm Electrical Energy Generation Potential

Valorization of agro-food waste through anaerobic digestion (AD) is gaining prominence as alternative method of waste minimization and renewable energy production. The aim of this study was to identify the key parameters for digester performance subjected to kinetic study and semicontinuous operation. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests were conducted in two different operating conditions: without mixing (WM) and continuous mixing (CM). Three different substrates, including food waste (FW), chicken dung (CD), and codigestion of FW and CD (FWCD) were used. Further kinetic evaluation was performed to identify mixing’s effect on kinetic parameters and correlation of the kinetic parameters with digester performance (volatile solid removal (VS%) and specific methane production (SMP)). The four models applied were: modified Gompertz, logistic, first-order, and Monod. It was found that the CM mode revealed higher values of Rm and k as compared to the WM mode, and the trend was consistently observed in the modified Gompertz model. Nonetheless, the logistic model demonstrated good correlation of kinetic parameters with VS% and SMP. In the continuous systems, the optimum OLR was recorded at 4, 5, and 7 g VS/L/d for FW, CD, and FWCD respectively. Therefore, it was deduced that codigestion significantly improved digester performance. Electrical energy generation at the laboratory scale was 0.002, 0.003, and 0.006 kWh for the FW, CD, and FWCD substrates, respectively. Thus, projected electrical energy generation at the on-farm scale was 372 kWh, 382 kWh, and 518 kWh per day, respectively. Hence, the output could be used as a precursor for large-scale digester-system optimization